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@uiten fttttes gettati @frn EZRA DURAND,A CF NCRWICH, CONNECTICUT.Letters Patent ltlo. 72,824, dated December 31, 1857.

IMPROVMENT IN DUVLGIMERS.

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TO ALLV WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

B c it known that'I, EZRA DURAND, of Norwich, New London county,Connecticut, have invented a new and improved Dulcimer; and I`do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthisv specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a verticallongitudinal section of my improved dulcimcr, the plane of section beingindicated by the line z z, tig'. 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical'eross-section of the same, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the line y y, tig. 1.

Figure' 3 is a side view of the hammer-by which the instrument is playedand Figure itis au edge view of the same.

Similar letters of reference-,indicate corresponding parts.

This invention-relates to a musical instrument which is known under thedenomination of dulcimer.

The same consists of a number of metal or other strings, which arestretched across a sound-board in a manner similar totlzat in whichpiano-strings are secured. It is played by means of hammers which arein-the hands of the player, and by which the cords or strings are struckin the required succession.

The invention consists in the manner of constructing the sound-post bywhich the sound-board is supported, said sound-post being perforated, aswell as the sound-board on each side of the post, for tlie purposeofallowing the vibrating air to pass through, thereby increasing thesoftness and distinctness of the sounds.

The invention also consists in the form and arrangement of tho bridges,whereby a certain part of each string is elevated, for the purpose ot'separating and easily distinguishing the bass and treble-strings in theinstrument.

A-A represents a case or box, which is made of wood, of suitableform anddimensions. The same may, if desired, be supported upon legs B, and beprovided with lids, and he ornamented, or otherwise so arranged, thatits outer appearance will be similar to that of a piano-forte. But theselegs, lids, or ornaments, or any one ot' them, may,lit` desired, beomitted.

C is the soundboard, which is supported by brackets D, which are securedin the case A. Its central portion rests upon a sound-post, E. Thelatter is made of one board, which is perforated with a number of holes,und on each side of it the sound-board C is also perforated, as isclearly shown ing. 1. The sound-post may, instead ofbeing n. perforatedboard, consist of two'horizontal bars, arranged respectively below thesoundboard and above the bottom-board a of the case A. Between thesebars are upright pillars, far enough apart from each other to permit thecirculation of the air through the holes in the sound-board and throughthe sound-post.

e and f are' the strings, the former the bass, the latter thetreble-strings- Their ends are secured around pins b and tuning-pins e,as shown.

The bass-bridge G is secured to the left-liand'side ofthe sound-board,and is provided with vertical projections ,'a's shown in fig. l. I

The low bridge II is arranged on the right-hand side of the sound-board,and is of usual construction.

The centrebridge I is as high as the higher parts, d, of the bridge G,and is perforated with holes, as shown in ig. 2.

The hess-strings e are laid over theelevated portion, d, of the bridgeC, and are passed through the holes in the bridge I. The treblestringsfare laid over the centre bridge I, as shown. Thus, the bass-strings arehighest near the bass-bridge G, and the treble-strings near the centrebridge I; and as the highest portions only are struck by the soft endsof the elastic hammer J, the bass and treble-strings can be easilydistinguished from euch other.

The distance between the centre bridge and. bassbridge is smaller thanthat between the centre and low bridge H; and thus each treble-stringhas two tones, oneon either side oi' the centre bridge.

The number of strings is unlimited, and can'be increasedror diminishedat pleasure.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the perforated sounding-post E, perforatedsoiinding-board C, perforated centre bridge I, and notched bass-bridgeG, the whole constructed substantillyss herein described, for thepurpose specified.

EZRA DUB-AND.

Witnesses:

JNO. E. DURAND, JOHN D. Benson.

